Tag: renault

F1 2023: Maximized Dominance: Verstappen Wins in Spain

The Max Verstappen winning juggernaut shows no signs of slowing down. With another commanding victory in Spain, the Dutchman has now amassed an impressive tally of 40 wins. What’s more, the prospect of his reign coming to an end seems increasingly distant, painting an ominous picture for his competitors. As Verstappen continues to assert his dominance, the rest of the Formula 1 grid faces an uphill battle to challenge his supremacy.

Max Verstappen’s dominance in Spain was evident right from Friday practice. It carried through to Saturday qualifying too as, by nearly a half-second gap, he secured pole position, leaving his closest rival, Carlos Sainz, trailing in his wake. Verstappen’s performance on Saturday was so commanding that he didn’t even need to make a second run.

There was no real hope of a close battle with Verstappen on race day but the start of any race brings with it at least an inkling of a chance. Nevertheless, as the lights went out any and all hopes of a close battle for the lead quickly fizzled out. Verstappen expertly navigated the brief challenge for P1 and thereafter effortlessly extended his advantage, cruising his way to a third consecutive race win in the 2023 season. The Dutchman’s ability to maintain sustain his unmatched pace has undoubtedly solidified his position as the champion-elect this season.

While Carlos Sainz showcased an impressive performance in qualifying, securing a solid starting position, Ferrari’s hopes for a strong showing gradually faded during the race. The pace of the Ferrari cars fizzled as the Spaniard struggled to maintain his position, eventually falling behind both Mercedes drivers by the end of the race.

Despite Ferrari’s upgrades, including a new sidepod configuration, it became evident that they hadn’t quite hit the sweet spot. The disappointment continued for the team as Charles Leclerc, plagued by a dismal qualifying session, failed to make it into the points, further adding to Ferrari’s frustrations. The race and performance by Ferrari served as a stark reminder that even with big upgrades, and perhaps big expectations, it may not play out as expected.

While Ferrari’s upgrades failed to deliver the expected performance boost in Spain, Mercedes made notable strides in terms of race pace. Both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell showcased impressive performances, although they fell short of challenging Max Verstappen. Nonetheless, it was an encouraging step in the right direction for the Mercedes team. Like Ferrari, Mercedes introduced a newly styled sidepod along with several other upgrades. The second and third-place finishes for Hamilton and Russell, respectively, are certainly commendable results. However, Team Principal Toto Wolff remains cautious, emphasizing that there is still a long way to go before they can truly challenge Red Bull’s dominance. Nevertheless, these results serve as a vindication for the Mercedes team, as they now have confidence that they are heading down the right design path for their car.

Checo Perez experienced yet another challenging qualifying session, which resulted in an eleventh-place start on the grid. However, the Mexican driver showcased his tenacity and skill by making a solid recovery, ultimately securing a fourth-place finish. Nevertheless, the truth remains that if Perez aims to mount a genuine challenge for the championship, his bad days need to be, well, not so bad. Elsewhere, Carlos Sainz trundled home in an underwhelming fifth place, highlighting the lack of pace from Ferrari. The two Aston Martin drivers, Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso, showed respectable performances, finishing in sixth and seventh place, respectively. However, Aston, and likely the drivers, would be disappointed with this haul in a season that has been littered with podium finished for Alonso.

Esteban Ocon claimed the eighth position for Alpine and Zhou Guanyu of Alfa Romeo secured an impressive ninth-place finish. In the final points paying position was Pierre Gasly in the second Alpine car. Lando Norris secured a dazzling third place in qualifying but broke his front-wing against Hamilton’s rear tyre at the start of the race. The McLaren driver managed a lowly seventeenth place finish.

Verstappen’s dominance in Spain showcased his exceptional driving skills and unwavering determination. With a commanding pole position and a flawless start, Verstappen effortlessly controlled the race from start to finish, securing yet another victory. His ability to consistently deliver exceptional performances, coupled with his relentless pursuit of success, is sight to behold as the second coming of Red Bull appears to gain more and more steam.

All images courtesy of Pirelli Motorsport

June 5, 2023
F1 2022: Australian Gp Preview – Down Under Once More

Only two of the twenty-three scheduled races of 2022 have been run so far. But what we have learnt from Bahrain and Saudi Arabia is likely to characterize the first portion of the season. Ferrari has clearly delivered a car capable of producing peak pace for qualifying and one that is more than capable of delivering long-run pace that is not only competitive but puts them in a position to win races. Red Bull too seems to have produced a car that is capable of winning but is perhaps not yet able to deliver the one-lap quali pace as easily as Ferrari.

When there is a major rule change there is always the potential for the pecking order to be re-arranged. But few would have expected Mercedes to stumble early on. After all, the German mark has won a staggering eight constructor’s titles in a row. But fundamental change can catch out even the very best. Bahrain and Saudi exposed some serious deficiencies in the W13 Mercedes. Not only is it still struggling to get a handle on the porpoising (bouncing) at high speed, but aerodynamically the car also seems to be on the draggier end of the scale. Speaking of scales, the Merc is also one of the heaviest cars on the grid, which is not helped by the engine. From the first two rounds of the season, and comparison of speed-trap figures it’s clear that the Merc engine is lacking in comparison to the Ferrari and Red Bull-badged Honda. And heck if numbers isn’t your thing have a gander at the quali results and notice that Merc-engined cars are dominating the bottom-half of the grid.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff remains as bullish as ever and promises that the team will not rest until it finds its way back to the front of the pack. The question remains how long this recovery will take, and will it be in time for the team to be in the mix for the titles? This weekend there may be a bit of light at the end of the tunnel for Mercedes. Formula 1 returns to race in Australia for the first time since 2019. The Albert Park circuit is an outlier on the calendar, a unique semi-street track that combines medium to higher-speed turns and rewards good braking performance.

It is a circuit that has the potential to mask some deficiencies in a car. Missing some k’s on the top-end? This is not much of a problem here as the circuit has a relatively short start/finish strait. Unfortunately, the turn 9 and 10 chicane has been removed which has transformed this sector of the track into a 1.3 km long blast at full throttle. The good news is that several of the corners (read turns 1,3, and 6) have been made broader to encourage more overtaking. All in all, the changes to the track is expected to drop the lap time by an estimated five seconds.

It isn’t exactly a bold suggestion to postulate that Ferrari and Red Bull are likely to duke it out for pole and the win. But already the narrative of Verstappen versus Leclerc is being woven. What then of Carlos Sainz? If Ferrari maintains their competitiveness throughout the season this is the Spaniard’s most important season. Sainz was a match for Leclerc in 2021 but it wasn’t under the guise of championship battle and the colossally unremitting pressure which accompanies it. This will reveal if Sainz is champion-material or not.

For Hamilton and George Russell things should go better than it did in Saudi. But then it could hardly be worse than a Q1 knock-out.

April 5, 2022
F1 2021: End-of-season Predictions

Formula 1 is likely one of the most difficult sports to predict accurately. There will be those who scoff at this and point to Mercedes’s six consecutive title-winning seasons as the perfect example of how predictable it is. But while championship glory is the ultimate prize there are so many more stories that combine to make Formula 1 the greatest sport in the world.

After a brutal half-season at Red Bull who would’ve predicted that Pierre Gasly so brilliantly rise to the occasion and end 2020 as a race winner? And who would’ve thought that Sergio Perez would win in Bahrain much less be signed up to Red Bull for 2021? And even fewer would’ve expected Ferrari not to keep Seb Vettel in their stable. The point here is that as much predictability as there can be in F1 there can be equally if not more unpredictability too. And on that note let’s set some of our own predictions for 2021. Now, these may well not pan out the way we expect heck they probably won’t, it is F1 after all. But if they do we’ll be happy to take credit and equally as happy to admit that we were wrong after a lengthy steward’s enquiry has been conducted.

We return to some predictions made all the way back in February this year to gauge how right or wrong we were.

Most improved driver

Natalie:

Seb Vettel has endured two and a half miserable seasons at Ferrari. Up to the mid-point of 2018, Vettel looked strong and very much on course to push Lewis Hamilton all the way to the ragged edge for the title. But it spectacularly unravelled and Ferrari fell dramatically by the wayside in succeeding years.

Some would say that Vettel has lost his edge but it might well be a case of Ferrari simply sucking the life out of him. He simply hasn’t looked like the jovial driver we have come to know. With Aston Martin, he may not be challenging for the title but Vettel has a great chance to re-ignite his passion for the sport and to re-discover what has made him one of the greats. The prediction is for Vettel to be on the podium in 2021 and to remind everyone of just how good he is.

End-of-season result: While Seb Vettel did, technically, stand on the podium in Hungary he didn’t quite fulfil the lofty expectations set for him before the start of the season. Though he did get to keep his Baku podium finish.

Final Opinion: Most improved driver – Carlos Sainz. The Spanish driver took like a duck to water in the Ferrari and not only underlined his inherent speed but also beat his highly-rated teammate, Charles Leclerc, to fifth in the driver’s standings.

Our tech writer:

I’m not one to agree with Natalie very quickly and this is no exception. There are quite a few that could be seen as most improved for the year. Sergio Perez is one of the names that come to mind. The Mexican is more mature, he’s measured in his approach and he has a new team to get settled in. Being at Red Bull won’t be very easy. The team is built around Max Verstappen after all. There will be a huge expectation on Perez to beat or just get close to Verstappen. It’s a long shot but my money is on Perez. Honourable mention here for Ricciardo and Stroll.

End-of-season result: I was wildly off with the Ricciardo prediction. Perez didn’t do too bad but not great either. Perez blew hot and cold throughout the season. He delivered when it counted.

Final Opinion: Have to go with Sainz. He did well with McLaren the previous season and then got to Ferrari and was classified every race this season leading to his P5 position in the driver’s championship. Mr Consistency this season.

Driver of the year

Natalie:

For some time Sergio Perez has been steadily plugging away, scoring points, and holding Racing Point together. He’d had a chance in 2013 at McLaren but it came to early on in the Mexican’s career and he never found his groove. Perez stepped up to a new level in 2020 and is very likely to build on this. In 2021 he will have a car capable of winning races. His experience, consistency, and speed will combine to catapult Checo Perez into the upper echelon of the grid.

End-of-season result: Checo had some real struggles matching teammate Verstappen, but who can blame him really.

Final Opinion: 10 race wins and 10 pole positions combine to make Max Verstappen not only the 2021 champion but also the best driver of the year. His drives in France and Texas stand out the most.

Our tech writer:

The best driver of the turbo-hybrid era has to be Lewis Hamilton. He’s in the best car and his performances have just been on another level to his peers. If he takes his 8th world title there’s no doubt he takes driver of the year.

Final Opinion: I’d still put Hamilton as the driver of the year. His ability to focus and put in performance after performance to narrow the championship gap down to zero coming into the final race of the season is what a 7-time world champion would do. He fought with everything till the chequered flag in the last race.

Most improved team

Natalie:

McLaren is already on a solid upwards trajectory and it will continue in 2021. Not only is the Mercedes engine being installed in the back of the McLaren chassis but they have also welcomed Daniel Ricciardo to the team. The Aussie will find his feet quickly and when he does he is a proven superstar that will deliver for McLaren.

End-of-season result: McLaren faded a bit towards the end of the season but they delivered a stellar racing year including a brilliant one-two finish at Monza.

Final Opinion: Sticking with McLaren.

Our tech writer:

Ferrari has a low base to work from. 2020 was abysmal for the Scuderia. Some restructuring went on at the office and no doubt some shiny new toys in the factory to improve the car. There are some positive noises coming out of Maranello pre-testing regarding the power unit. Aerodynamically they’ve been making some strides throughout 2020 and seem to be on some sort of pathway. And with Charles Leclerc who’s now the de-facto leader in the team, will be chomping at the bit to get going this season.

End-of-season result: Ferrari started there about, a slight slump in the midseason saw them drop below McLaren in the constructor’s championship. They kept at it and improved the car and ended up securing third in the championship. Finishing best of the rest is the consolation prize when you’re well and truly beaten every weekend. Special mention to Williams who finished ahead of Alfa Romeo in the standings. Another special mention to Alphatauri and their battle with Alpine. Franz Tost was aiming for P5. They were just beaten to it at the end by Alpine.

Final Opinion: Ferrari.

Constructor’s title

Natalie:

This is the type of predication that could very well not come to fruition but we’re going to make it anyway. The combination of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez is one that can deliver big points race-in-and-race-out. Red Bull unlocked some of their potential towards the end of 2020 and with a point-scoring machine like Perez in the car, they have a great opportunity of snatching this trophy.

End-of-season result: Checo Perez’s struggle to get comfortable in the Red Bull were slightly underestimated. But he certainly did the job in Abu Dhabi, didn’t he?

Final Opinion: Mercedes definitely deserved an 8th constructor’s title. There’s no doubt they were nerfed a bit by the new regs, as it customary in F1. There was no doubt a monumental effort to get the car into shape and it showed.

Our tech writer:

Constructors title No. 8 for Mercedes. I just don’t see any other team that’s able to challenge the Silver Arrows this year.

End-of-season result: Red Bull got close. A couple of unlucky races for them together with some poor showings from Perez cost them the constructors title at the end.

Final Opinion: Well deserved by Mercedes.

Driver’s title

Natalie:

When he eventually puts pen to paper on his contract Lewis Hamilton is the likely shoo-in for the driver’s title. A couple of early wins in the season to build his own momentum and to see if the short-term ‘threat’ of Valtteri Bottas and he should be well on his way to title number eight.

End-of-season result: Who would’ve thought that 2021 would finally see the end of Hamilton’s domination. He gave it all he had though in a season that will be remembered for all of time.

Final Opinion: Max Verstappen’s triumph as driver’s champion comes after an unforgettable season and it is richly deserved. Super Max!

Our tech writer:

I see I’m going to have to agree with Natalie on something! Bottas 4.0 or whatever version we’re on, it just seemed like beta testing all this time. It’s going to be Hamilton unless something drastic happens and we have Verstappen sneaking past at the end. That will be a coup for the bookies. Worth a fiver on Verstappen for the title then?

Final Opinion: Did anyone place their bets on Verstappen? People were ready to tear them up by lap 1 of the Abu Dhabi GP race. Something drastic did happen a few laps from the end and Verstappen snatched his first world title at the end.

2021 has been a season of anxiety, entertainment, controversy, penalties, and most of all – unpredictability. It is likely to be remembered as certainly the best season of the Hybrid era and definitely as one of the greatest of all time.

February 24, 2021
F1 2020: Abu Dhabi Gp Review – Clinical Verstappen signs off season

The saying goes that good things are worth waiting for. Red Bull have lived this adage more than most in 2020 as it was only at final race weekend that Max Verstappen could secure his first pole position of the season.

It was a stunning lap from the Dutch driver to edge out Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton by less than a tenth of a second. It may have taken seventeen qualifying sessions to secure the first place on the starting grid but it proved to be the perfect launching pad towards Verstappen’s tenth career win.

The Red Bull driver led cleanly off the line and easily gapped Bottas who in turn was able to pull away from Hamilton in third. A brief virtual safety car, which turned in a full safety car, to scoop up the stricken Racing Point of Sergio Perez prompted most of the field into the pits. But still Verstappen was unflappable in the lead of the race. Though the Abu Dhabi grand prix left a lot to be desired in terms of entertainment it was a brilliantly controlled and clinical drive from Verstappen.

For once Mercedes had no answer to the Red Bull’s pace. Second-placed Bottas never got closer than two and a half seconds and eventually finished more than ten seconds adrift by the time the chequered flag fell. Lewis Hamilton made his return after testing positive for Covid-19 but finished an unspectacular third. For most of the weekend Hamilton did appear low on energy and the 7-time champion confirmed afterwards that it was one of the most physical races he’d ever completed. Alex Albon came home in fourth and will now have to wait for news on his future with Red Bull.

It was a standout day for McLaren and Lando Norris led home teammate in Carlos Sainz in fifth and sixth respectively. The haul of eighteen points secures third place in the Constructor’s championship for McLaren. It is an especially extraordinary achievement for a team who just three years ago finished ninth out of ten teams with a paltry thirty points on the board for the entire season. To affect such a stunning turnaround in not very much time is a testament not only to the designers of the car but to the management of Andreas Seidl and Zak Brown and the ability of Norris and Sainz to not only unite the team but to also deliver on track.

Daniel Ricciardo signed off his final race at Renault with a solid seventh place finish ahead of Monza race-winner Pierre Gasly in eighth. Esteban Ocon was ninth in the other Renault while Lance Stroll could register only one point in tenth. In what has been a difficult season for all Ferrari-powered cars Kimi Raikkonen finished twelfth ahead of both works Ferrari drivers with Charles Leclerc leading home Seb Vettel, in his last race for the Scuderia, in thirteenth and fourteenth. As it were Perez was the only retirement from the race. The Mexican driver is seemingly out of the F1 picture for 2021 with only the merest of hope resting with a possible call up to Red Bull.

That Verstappen is ready to fight for a world championship is not in doubt. He showed his class once again with a faultless drive to win in Abu Dhabi. Though the Mercedes juggernaut is likely to roll on in 2021 Red Bull’s performances in the final third of this season presents a glimmer of hope. With Verstappen and the fairly unchanged regulations for next year 2021 may not be as straightforward as it appears. The good news is that there is only 93 days until we find out if Red Bull and perhaps even Ferrari have what it takes to challenge Mercedes.

All images courtesy of Pirelli Motorsport

December 13, 2020
F1 2020: Sakhir GP Review – Vamos Checo!

Several months ago Formula 1 announced that it would race around the outer loop of the Bahrain International circuit. Some speculation was abounding as to what a race around the short circuit could produce. But not even the wildest theories could have predicted the race it ultimately delivered.

The week started with the good news of Romain Grosjean’s release from hospital after a stunning crash just days earlier in the Bahrain grand prix. This was followed by the announcement that Lewis Hamilton had tested positive for COVID and would not race in the penultimate round of the season. The seat should technically have gone to reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne but George Russell was drafted in instead.

The current Williams driver has rarely put a foot wrong in his nearly two seasons in F1 and it would be the golden opportunity for Russell to put the best of his skills on show. And deliver he most certainly did. He missed out on pole to Bottas by 0.026 but already there were signs that he was well capable of delivering something special on Sunday. He aced the start and stole into the lead of the race as if he’d done it a hundred times before. Behind a coming together between Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez forced Max Verstappen into taking avoiding action. Unfortunately for the Red Bull driver he couldn’t avoid the barrier and along with Leclerc ended his race on lap one while Perez dropped to eighteenth overall.

Russell led his Mercedes teammate Bottas comfortably for the majority of the race and looked well on course for an extraordinary win. He’d managed the first round of pitstops and a virtual safety car with aplomb. The Safety Car was called upon on lap 63 as Jack Aitken, Russell’s replacement at Williams, left debris on the exit of the final corner after brushing the barrier. Both Mercs were called into the pits for fresh rubber. Uncharacteristically, utter confusion reigned amongst the Merc pitcrew who fitted the wrong tyres to Russell’s car. It forced another pitstop to correct error but still Russell emerged in fifth with some hope of regaining the lead. He made short work of Bottas, Lance Stroll, and Esteban Ocon to run second in just a few laps. By now Perez had driven a stunning recovery right into the lead of the race. But just as Russell began to close the gap to the race leader he was called back into the pits with a slow puncture.

He emerged in fourteenth and was able to recover to ninth overall and set the fastest lap of the race. It was utterly gutting for Russell who was well in control and looked set to take victory. It may be scant consolation right now by Russell’s time will come. To be parachuted into a completely new environment behind the wheel of a completely new car is a monumental undertaking. George Russell has proven, unequivocally, that he is the man for Mercedes in the future.

As heartbreaking as the unraveling of Russell’s race may have been there was utter elation as for the first time in his 190-race career Sergio Perez claimed the top step of the podium. And by coming from eighteenth to first he did it in supreme style. The Mexican driver has stood on the podium on several previous occasions but never on the top step and he was understandably emotional. Esteban Ocon too delivered a high-class drive into second to secure the first podium of his career. The day though belonged thorough to Racing Point who also saw Lance Stroll on the podium in third.

In fourth place was Carlos Sainz for McLaren and Daniel Ricciardo was sixth in the other Renault as Alex Albon completed a fairly anonymous race in seventh. The history books will show that Bottas finished eighth ahead of Russell ninth but he, and everyone who was paying attention, will know that he was outdriven on the day. Lando Norris scored the final point on offer for McLaren in tenth.

As it stands Perez does not have a seat on the grid for 2021. Rumours have been lingering that he may have a chance at a Red Bull seat and he has undoubtedly given them something a bit more to think about.

All images courtesy of Pirelli Motorsport

December 9, 2020
F1 2020: Bahrain Gp Review – F1 Safety the Winner

A cursory glance at the results of the weekend’s F1 race would reveal another seemingly comfortable victory for Lewis Hamilton ahead of Max Verstappen and Alex Albon. But it would not even begin to tell the story of the 2020 Bahrain grand prix.

The race was immediately brought to stop after only three corners. From the wide shot it appeared that a car had made impact with the outside barrier on turn three and burst into flames. It was a sight highly uncommon in Formula 1. It was soon confirmed that the driver involved was Romain Grosjean. Due to the seriousness of the crash and a lack of immediate information on the driver’s conditions no replays were shown of the incident. Several moments later however the broadcast cameras picked up Grosjean being assisted away from the scene by Dr. Ian Roberts and medical car driver Alan van der Merwe.

With Grosjean seemingly without serious injury the replays were broadcast. The horrific images revealed that the Haas had split into upon impact and that the front section had pierced the steel barrier. The medical car, which always follows the field at the start of a race, stopped at the scene moments later. Ian Roberts ran towards the raging flames as marshals and Alan van der Merwe attempted to douse the fire with extinguishers. Dr. Roberts later reported that the fire extinguisher pushed the flames back just enough for him to assist Grosjean over what was left of the barrier. As it were Grosjean was in the burning car for roughly twenty seconds before being able to pull himself out. He suffered second-degree burns on his hands and some burns to his left foot. Dr. Roberts also reported that the visor on Grosjean’s was melted. It is believed that the impact of the car with the barrier was registered at 221km/h and 53G.

From the monocoque, to the safety belts, to the fireproof overalls everything worked in unison in the crash to allow Grosjean to walk away with only minor injuries. And there was one other piece of equipment that ensured his survival, the Halo. The burnt monocoque was unrecognizable but clearly showed the halo head protection system completely intact. From early assessments, by Ross Brawn and others, it is clear that the Halo had played a significant role in saving Romain Grosjean’s life. There should never again be a discussion about the Halo’s inclusion in the sport and any and all detractors would be best served by keeping their asinine opinions to themselves.

The red flag lasted from more than an hour as track workers replaced the destroyed barrier. The race barely got underway before the safety car was called upon. This time it was Lance Stroll who found himself upside down in the Racing Point after a coming together with Dannil Kvyat. Thankfully, Stroll was uninjured. Racing resumed with Hamilton in the lead and Verstappen in second.

The Merc driver was able to maintain a gap of around four seconds to the Red Bull for most of the race. Verstappen made a late pitstop for fresh tyres and an attempt at the fastest lap. Sergio Perez had been running solidly in third for the majority of the race but was forced into retirement with only three laps to go. As it were Albon inherited third place.

McLaren completed a good day at the office with Lando Norris in fourth and Carlos Sainz in fifth. The Alpha Tauri of Pierre Gasly was sixth ahead of Ricciardo in seventh. Bottas, who had suffered an early puncture, was eighth while Ocon and Leclerc was ninth and tenth.

As fans of the sport we always hope for a spectacle, an edge-of-the-seat race that gets the heart pumping. But on this occasion the anti-climax at the end of it was welcomed. Absolute safety in F1 can never be guaranteed. But because of the work that has been done by the likes of Sir Jackie Stewart, Prof. Sid Watkins, Alex Wurz, and so many others Romain Grosjean was able to walk away from a horrifying crash. We owe all of them the greatest debt of gratitude.

November 30, 2020
F1 2020: Turkish Gp Review – Hamilton, 7 times World Champion

At 2004 Belgian grand prix Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher became a seven times Formula 1 world champion. There was seemingly no end to the Schumacher/Ferrari behemoth and there was certainly no fathomable thought that one day the record could be matched.

Sixteen years later we stand in a moment that has seen Schumacher’s record equaled by Lewis Hamilton. The British drove as brilliantly as he ever has to deliver a stellar race victory in Turkey, which has taken him to an incredible seventh world title.

Mercedes and Hamilton may have ultimately climbed onto the top step of the podium in Turkey but it was far from the straightforward stroll to victory that most have become accustomed too. Saturday belonged very much to Lance Stroll as the Canadian driver snatched a breathtaking pole position in treacherously slippery conditions. His Racing Point teammate Sergio Perez was third on the grid while Max Verstappen was second quickest. As the race settled and Stroll pulled away to the tune of more than a second a lap Seb Vettel emerged in fourth from eleventh on the grid. The Ferrari seemed to come alive in the wet conditions as he easily held of Hamilton for the better part of the race. Meanwhile Valtteri Bottas’s afternoon is best forgotten as the Finn swapped ends at least four times in the race. As if to add insult to serious embarrassment Bottas was also eventually lapped by teammate Hamilton.

A rare mistake from Hamilton allowed Alex Albon and his Red Bull teammate Verstappen through into fourth and fifth with Stroll building a lead of more than ten seconds over the chasing pack after the first round of stops. It was during this phase of the race that Red Bull looked easily the favourites to win the race. Nevertheless, a rash decision from Verstappen to attempt an overtake on Perez around the outside of turn 11 sent the Dutchman into a spin and needing to pit for new intermediate tyres.

By lap 29 it was clear that the Racing Points were struggling with overheated inters as Albon, Vettel, and Hamilton quickly eroded the gap to the leaders. Stroll’s dilemma became greater the more the track dried. However, it wasn’t dry enough for slick tyres forcing just about everyone to fit new intermediate tyres in the second pitstop phase. But as Stroll faded dramatically from contention Hamilton and Perez persevered on the worn inters. But it was Hamilton who clearly had the better pace as he swept into the lead of the race and drove off into the distance.

Ferrari’s good pace was underlined by Charles Leclerc who charged into third place in the final few laps of the race. The Monegasque driver challenged Perez for second but failed to make the move stick and ran wide at turn 12. The mistake allowed Vettel, easily one of the best drivers of the day, into third while a disappointed Leclerc finished fourth. Carlos Sainz delivered an excellent drive into fifth for McLaren as Verstappen and Albon had to be content with sixth and seventh overall. Lando Norris made it a double points score for McLaren in eighth as pole-sitter and early race leader Stroll trundled home in a disappointing ninth. Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo scored the final point on offer in tenth.

The Turkish grand prix, its exceptionally slippery track surface, the wet weather and an on point Lewis Hamilton combined to deliver an unforgettable race. Eventually, Hamilton recovered from being a pitstop behind, wore his intermediate tyres down to slicks and won the race by a staggering 30 seconds. After fourteen seasons in the sport and 93 wins it was brilliant a drive as Silverstone in 2008 or Hungary in 2013 or Germany 2018. And there’s no sign that the motivation or the hunger is waning.

The perennial ‘who is the greatest of all time’ debate is sure to carry on. Is it any of Fangio, or Lauda, or Senna, or Schumacher? Or is it Lewis Hamilton? The answer is startlingly easy. It is none of them and all of them. In each of their respective eras these giants of the sport have defined Formula 1. There is no singular greatest driver of all time for the simple fact that all of these monumental achievements merit respect and reverence. Not least of all are the immense feats of one Lewis Hamilton. We are all indelibly privileged to bear witness to this greatness.

November 16, 2020
F1 2020: Turkish Gp Preview – Return to Istanbul Park

If you are a fairly new fan of Formula 1 you may not be all that familiar with the Istanbul Park circuit in Turkey. The anti-clockwise circuit, designed by Herman Tilke, was first introduced in 2005. Due to the worldwide pandemic it makes it’s re-introduction to the calendar for the first time since 2011.

F1 has moved on a fair bit since the last Turkish grand prix. Aside from the worldwide pandemic making short work of the official race calendar much has changed in the sport that never sleeps. For one 2011 would have seen the sport in the thick of the Red Bull and Seb Vettel period of domination with Mercedes trundling around as nothing more than midfield contenders. There would be no inkling of a Max Verstappen nor a Charles Leclerc let alone the suggestion that Vettel himself would pull up stakes and swop Red Bull for Ferrari red. The turbo-hybrid era too was still a few years off as in 2011 F1 cars were still being pushed around the circuits of the world by a screaming V8. Heck not only was Lewis Hamilton still a McLaren driver but he had just one championship title under his belt.

Along with Malaysia’s Sepang circuit the 5.3 km Turkish circuit is widely regarded as some of track designer Tilke’s best work in F1. Turn one is akin to Brazil’s Senna S and has been compared to Laguna Seca’s corkscrew albeit with a slightly less dramatic dip. The famed turn 8 is a quadruple-apex left-hander that truly tested not only the prowess of an F1 car but also the commitment of the driver. In 2020 the once fearsome turn 8 will be far easier to negotiate for the modern F1 car. In fact, the expectation is for the cars to blast flat out around turn 8. Nevertheless, the circuit does present several overtaking opportunities and DRS too will have a bigger impact, especially when used on the back strait.

The first race in 2005 was won by then McLaren driver Kimi Raikkonen. One year later a 19-year-old Vettel made his F1 debut in a 2006 practice session for BMW Sauber. 2006 was also the year in which Felipe Massa earned his first pole position and race win and proceeded to take three wins in a row around the Istanbul Park. A few years later in 2010 Vettel, now at Red Bull, would dramatically crash with teammate Mark Webber.

It is very much a foregone conclusion that Mercedes go into the weekend as the favourites for victory. Last time out at Imola has already seen the team claim a record-breaking seventh constructor’s title and this weekend presents the first opportunity for Hamilton to clinch a seventh driver’s championship title.

The permutations are straightforward for Hamilton too. Currently, the six-time champion holds an 84-point lead over teammate Valtteri Bottas with a maximum of 104 points still on the table. Hamilton needs only to finish ahead of teammate Bottas to be crowned world champion. Bottas, as the only driver able to ‘challenge’ for the title, must outscore Hamilton by eight points to move the fight for the championship on to the next race. Stranger things have certainly happened in the past. However, barring unreliability it is difficult to imagine that Hamilton won’t leave Turkey as a seven times world champion.

November 11, 2020
F1 2020: Portugal Gp Preview – Primed for Portimao

The Circuit Algarve, known casually as Portimao, is the newest venue to makes its 2020 debut as Formula 1 heads to Portugal for the first time since the 1996 grand prix around the famous Estoril circuit.

Portimao is well known to World SBK (Superbike) fans which has been on the championship calendar since 2008. Designed by Ricardo Pina the track has hosted several motorsport series including A1 Gp, the Le Mans Series, FIA GT and World Touring Car Championship, and an F1 winter test back in 2009.

At 4.7 kilometers in length the undulating nature of the Portuguese circuit is comparable to Belgium’s Spa-Franchorchamps and Austin’s Circuit of the Americas. The circuit width should present the opportunity for some overtaking but it is unlikely to be race that overwhelmed by the number of positions changes. The lap will be a quick one due to the flowing nature of the layout and the slipstreaming effect should play a fairly big role too. The downhill braking in some sections and blind entry in others should be a test for drivers.

There is little that suggests anything other than a Mercedes win this weekend. So dominant has the team been in 2020 that development has ceased on the W11 in favour of focusing all their attention of 2021. A mammoth 180 lead over Red Bull in the constructor’s standings has made Mercedes decision to shift its focus to next year’s car all the more obvious and comfortable. There is some reliability concern however given Valtteri Bottas’s retirement at the Nurburgring being related to the power unit. Nevertheless, with a 69-point lead over Bottas it is rather when and not if Lewis Hamilton will wrap up title number seven.

The race towards the driver’s title may be over bar the shouting but the midfield battle is as tight as it has been at any point in 2020. A scant eleven points is all that covers five drivers from Sergio Perez (68) in fifth through to Lance Stroll (57) in ninth. Add into the mix Pierre Gasly and Carlos Sainz, in tenth and eleventh, only a handful of points adrift and it’s clear that the midfield is by far the most intriguing on-track battle. The mid-field has already produced numerous scintillating dices and given how close it is, on pace, between the likes of Racing Point, McLaren, and Alpha Tauri it promises to be the most exhilarating watching too.

October 21, 2020
F1 2020: Eifel Gp Preview – F1 Returns to Nurburgring

The last time the Formula 1 paddock visited the Nurburgring was in 2013. Back then the sport was vastly different to how it’s known today. For one the sports was still running the 2.4-liter V8 and were standing on the cusp of switching to the hybrid power unit packages still being run now in 2020. There was some expectation that works team would excel in the hybrid era but no one could have foreseen the utter Mercedes dominance that ensued.

In 2013 F1 too was on the eve of welcoming Honda back into the sport after its so stunningly quit the sport three months before the start of the 2009 season. Seven years later it’s rather frightening how history repeats itself. Though they’ve given more notice than they this in 2008 Honda has again announced its intention to leave F1 at the conclusion of the 2022 season. It leaves Red Bull, and Alpha Tauri, without an engine supplier and it also leaves F1 in a difficult spot.

For Red Bull they’ll have to consider whether they want to go knocking on a current manufacturers door or even consider building its own engine. There is peril in both choices. For one they may, and probably will, get turned down by Mercedes and Ferrari as neither would want to provide an engine to a direct competitor. Designing and manufacturing an in-house engine is an enormous financial undertaking not to mention the resources required. And there’s no guarantee that it will work as needed straight away. Case in point is Honda who toiled under extreme pressure and were only able to reap the rewards years later. Heck, even the might of Ferrari’s resources can’t get it right.

If all options are exhausted Red Bull could revert to once again running Renault engines. The split between the pair was anything but amicable and Christian Horner and Cyril Abiteboul have nothing but a hate-hate relationship. However, the Concorde has a provision that just might save Red Bull. It states that the manufacturer who has the least amount of customer teams will be compelled to provide an engine should a team have no other option. In this case it will be Renault which will have no customer teams when McLaren switch to Merc power in 2021. It might be some time before anyone knows what Red Bull’s decision will be.

Back in 2013 it was Sebastian Vettel, on his way to title number four, that stood on the top step at the Nurburgring with Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean alongside. It will be some race if those three end up on the podium this weekend. Nevertheless, the Nurburgring is a technical circuit that comprises mostly of high-speed corners and only one or two obvious overtaking opportunities. The level of grip that a 2020 car produces will also shorten the braking distance and even negate some altogether which will make for a exhilarating lap. It may well be even more of an adventure as cold and, potentially wet, weather is predicted for the weekend.

This weekend also marks the 323rd race start of Kimi Raikkonen’s F1 career. It started all the back at the Australian grand epic in 2001 and was followed by glittering stints at McLaren and Ferrari for which he won the world championship in 2007. It also included a deviation to rallying and even some NASCAR in 2010 and 2011. The enigmatic Finn returned to F1 for a two year run at Lotus which was highlighted by a third place finish in the driver’s standings, a slew of podiums, and two memorable wins. The wins were elusive in his return to Ferrari before an outstanding drive secured him victory in Austin in 2018. When most expected him to hang up his gloves off he went to Alfa Romeo.

Though the Ferrari power unit has severely stunted the competitiveness of the Alfa in 2020 Raikkonen has shown that he’s lost none of fire or pace with some outstanding drives this season; not least of all in Mugello. Raikkonen’s so-called imminent retirement has been a story probably the last seven or eight years. And while he is definitely in the twilight of his career his prowess and technical ability means that it’s up to him to call time. But Alfa team boss Fred Vasseur wants the Finn to stay on and it seems likely that the Iceman, easily on the most beloved drivers on the grid, may well line up again in 2021.

October 7, 2020